Wide field-of-view binocular device, system and kit

• US 7,492,512 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mirage Innovations Limited
• Original Assignee: Mirage International Limited
• Inventors: Cohen, Tal, Nivon, Uzia, Niv, Yehuda
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THONG Q
• Application Number:
  US11/017,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20060018014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 359407-420, 359480-482, 359577-590, 359618-630
• US Class Current: 359/407
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0116 comprising devices for correcting chromatic aberration
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/18 for binocular arrangements focusing binocular pairs G02B7/06; adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs G02B7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0016 Grooves, prisms, gratings, scattering particles or rough surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide

Abstract

A binocular device for transmitting an image into the eyes is provided. The binocular device comprises a first monocular device, for providing one eye with a first asymmetric field-of-view, and a second monocular device for providing another eye with a second asymmetric field-of-view, where the first and second asymmetric field-of-views are mutually complementary to a combined field-of-view, wider than each individual asymmetric field-of-view.

Claims

1. A system for providing an image to a user, comprising a binocular device for transmitting an image into a first eye and a second eye of the user, and an image generating device for providing said binocular device with said image;

wherein said binocular device comprises a first monocular device for providing the first eye with a first asymmetric field-of-view associated with a first range of incident angles corresponding to a first portion of said image and a second monocular device for providing the second eye with a second asymmetric field-of-view associated with a second range of incident angles corresponding to a second portion of said image and being different from said first asymmetric field-of-view, said first and second asymmetric field-of-views being mutually complementary to a combined field-of-view which is wider than each of said first and said second asymmetric field-of-views.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said image generating device is an analog image generating device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said analog image generating device comprises a light source and at least one image carrier selected from the group consisting of a miniature slide, a reflective microfilm, a transparent microfilm and a hologram.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said analog image generating device comprises a miniature cathode ray tube.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said image generating device is a digital image generating device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said digital image generating device comprises at least one miniature display selected from the group consisting of a reflective miniature liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode array (OLED), a digital light processor unit, a transparent miniature liquid crystal display and a plasma display.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said digital image generating device further comprises a light source.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling at least one display characteristic of said image generating device.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data source interface connectable to a data source and configured to receive a stream of imagery data from a data source and input said stream of imagery data into said image generating device.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a controller for controlling at least one display characteristic of said image generating device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said controller is operable to transmit activation and deactivation signals to said data source.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said controller is operable to select an operation mode of said data source.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising said data source.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said stream of imagery data comprises at least one data type selected from the group consisting of video and graphics.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising an audio unit, wherein said data source is configured to transmit audio data to said audio unit.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said data source is selected from the group consisting of a television apparatus, a portable television device, a satellite receiver, a video cassette recorder, a digital versatile disc, a digital moving picture player, a digital camera, a video graphic array card, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, an ultrasound imaging apparatus, a digital X-ray apparatus and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said imagery data is encoded and further wherein the system comprises a decoder for decoding said imagery data into a data format recognizable by said image generating device.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said imagery data is compressed and further wherein the system comprises a decompression unit for decompressing said imagery data.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising a wireless communication transmitter for transmitting said stream of imagery data, wherein said data source interface comprises a wireless communication receiver configured for receiving said stream of imagery data from said wireless communication transmitter.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wearable device being connected to said binocular device.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vision correction device, integrated with or mounted on said binocular device.

22. A communication kit, comprising:

a communication device, for providing a stream of imagery data;

an image generating device for receiving said stream of imagery data and generating an image therefrom; and

a binocular device for transmitting said image into a first eye and a second eye of the user;

wherein said binocular device comprises a first monocular device for providing the first eye with a first asymmetric field-of-view associated with a first range of incident angles corresponding to a first portion of said image and a second monocular device for providing the second eye with a second asymmetric field-of-view associated with a second range of incident angles corresponding to a second portion of said image and being different from said first asymmetric field-of-view, said first and second asymmetric field-of-views being mutually complementary to a combined field-of-view which is wider than each of said first and said second asymmetric field-of-views.

23. The kit of claim 22, being portable.

24. The kit of claim 23, wherein said communication device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant and a portable computer.

25. The kit of claim 22, wherein said image generating device is an analog image generating device.

26. The kit of claim 25, wherein said analog image generating device comprises a miniature cathode ray tube.

27. The kit of claim 22, wherein said image generating device is a digital image generating device.

28. The kit of claim 27, wherein said digital image generating device comprises at least one miniature display selected from the group consisting of a reflective miniature liquid crystal display, a transparent miniature liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode array (OLED), a digital light processor unit and a plasma display.

29. The kit of claim 28, wherein said digital image generating device further comprises a light source.

30. The kit of claim 22, further comprising a controller for controlling at least one display characteristic of said image generating device.

31. The kit of claim 30, wherein said controller is operable to transmit activation and deactivation signals to said communication device.

32. The kit of claim 30, wherein said controller is operable to select an operation mode of said communication device.

33. The kit of claim 22, wherein said stream of imagery data comprises at least one data type selected from the group consisting of video and graphics.

34. The kit of claim 33, further comprising an audio unit, wherein said communication device is configured to transmit audio data to said audio unit.

35. The kit of claim 22, wherein said imagery data is encoded and further wherein the kit comprises a decoder for decoding said imagery data into a data format recognizable by said image generating device.

36. The kit of claim 22, wherein said imagery data is compressed and further wherein the kit comprises a decompression unit for decompressing said imagery data.

37. The kit of claim 22, further comprising a wireless communication transmitter for transmitting said stream of imagery data from said communication device, and a wireless communication receiver for receiving said stream of imagery data.

38. The kit of claim 22, further comprising a wearable device being connected to said binocular device.

39. The system of claim 22, further comprising a vision correction device, integrated with or mounted on said binocular device.

40. A method of viewing an image, comprising at least the steps of:

(a) generating an image using an image generating device; and

(b) viewing said image through a binocular device using a first eye and a second eye, in a manner such that a first asymmetric field-of-view of associated with a first range of incident angles corresponding to first portion of said image is viewed by said first eye, and a second asymmetric field-of-view associated with a second range of incident angles corresponding to a second portion of said image and being different from said first asymmetric field-of-view, is viewed by said second eye, wherein said first and second asymmetric field-of-views are mutually complementary to a combined field-of-view which is wider than each of said first and said second asymmetric field-of-views.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said image generating device is an analog image generating device.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said analog image generating device comprises a light source and at least one image carrier selected from the group consisting of a miniature slide, a reflective microfilm, a transparent microfilm and a hologram.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein said analog image generating device comprises a miniature cathode ray tube.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein said image generating device is a digital image generating device.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said digital image generating device comprises at least one miniature display selected from the group consisting of a reflective miniature liquid crystal display, a transparent miniature liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode array (OLED), a digital light processor unit and a plasma display.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said digital image generating device further comprises a light source.

47. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of controlling at least one display characteristic of said image generating device.

48. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of transmitting a stream of imagery data from a data source and inputting said stream of imagery data into said image generating device.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of transmitting activating and deactivating signals to said data source.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of selecting operation mode of said data source.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein said stream of imagery data comprises at least one data type selected from the group consisting of video and graphics.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising the step of transmitting audio data to an audio unit and generating audio using said audio unit.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein said data source is selected from the group consisting of a television apparatus, a satellite receiver, a video cassette recorder, a digital versatile disc, a digital moving picture player, a digital camera, a video graphic array card, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, an ultrasound imaging apparatus, a digital X-ray apparatus and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.

54. The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of encoding said imagery data prior to said transmission of said imagery data, and decoding said imagery data into a data format recognizable by said image generating device prior to said inputting of said imagery data into said image generating device.

55. The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of compressing said imagery data prior to said transmission of said imagery data, and decompressing said imagery data prior to said inputting of said imagery data into said image generating device.

56. The method of claim 48, wherein said transmission of said stream of imagery data is by a wireless communication transmitter.

57. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of wearing a wearable device being connected to said binocular device.